Robert O'Donoghue (Dublin Fingal West, Labour)
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660. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his position on signing up to the European Prosecutor's Office; to outline the work and steps being taken to sign up to this office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65803/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) was established in 2017 under the EU's enhanced cooperation measure to investigate and prosecute crimes against the financial interest of the European Union. These crimes are as set out in Directive (EU) 2017/1371 of the European Parliament and of the Council, on the fight against fraud to the Union’s financial interests by means of criminal law, otherwise known as the PIF Directive.

Ireland decided not to opt in to the EPPO Regulation at that time, given that it represented a departure from our common law model of investigation and prosecution. However, Ireland has transposed the PIF Directive and the full suite of measures to investigate and prosecute PIF offences are available to Irish authorities under our domestic structures.

The Government approved the drafting of the General Scheme of a Bill to allow Ireland to join the EPPO in October 2023. I hope to be in a position to publish the General Scheme in early 2026. In the meantime, co-operation with the EPPO as a non-participating Member State is operational and working well, and legislative changes required to facilitate Ireland’s cooperation with the EPPO are fully operational as of 1 November 2023.

This was effected by way of amendments to the Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Act 2008, which enables Irish-EPPO cooperation, by creating a legal framework for EPPO to make requests for assistance directly to the State. Since then, there has been ongoing positive engagement with the EPPO in relation to the processing of mutual legal assistance requests.

The Central Authority for Mutual Assistance in my Department is the contact point for the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. All EPPO requests received are handled in accordance with the legislation and are prioritised. I can assure the Deputy that Irish officials enjoy a positive and collaborative working relationship with the EPPO, and it is intended that this will continue as the work on the legislative and operational aspects of Ireland’s future participation in the EPPO progresses. The Irish Government remains fully committed to protecting the Union’s financial interests and to providing every support possible to the EPPO, as it carries out its very important work.